Fence-machine.



I. K. HdLLINGERL FENCE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. R2, 1909. 990,653. Patented Apr.25, 1911.

' 11 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I. K. HOLLINGER.

FENCE MACHINE. APPLIOATDI FILED D30. 22, 1909.

Patented Apr. 25, 1911-.

11 BREEZE-SHEET 3.

v FENCE KAGHINE.

APPLIOATIOI FILED D30. 22, 1809.

Patented Apr. 25, 1911.

11 SHBE'IB-SEEBT 4.

1; K. HOLLINGBR.

FENCE MACHINE. APYLIOA'I'IOX FILED DBO. H, 1809) Patented Apr. 25, 1911.

11 SHEETS-BEBE? 5- Ma ay/2% FENCE MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED BBQ. 52,1909.

990,653. Patnted Apr. 25,1911.

11 sums-inn 0.

FENCE MACHINE.

' ABPLIGA'I'IOI FILED D80. 22, 1009.

Patented Apr. 25, 1911.

11 SHEETS-3331 7.

29 2/ 2 I jfM/[IJZZZ'Z a 1. K. HOLLINGER. PENOE MACHINE.

Arrtwnrox nun 1330.. 1900. Patented 2-5, 1911.

' u anus-sum a.

m" V I ISAAC K. HOLLINGER, OF GREENVILLE, OHIO.

FENCE-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC K. HOLLINGER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Greenville, in the county of Darke and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful F ence-Machine, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention has reference to machines designed more particularly forthe production of wire fences wherein the line wires and the mesh wiresare connected in a manner to form substantially triangle-shaped meshopenings, and the invention includes means whereby the mesh openings maybe of graded sizes from one edge of the fence toward the other.

In accordance with the present invention, the line wires may be fed fromrolls of any size moving in the direction of the fence being woven andthe mesh wires may likewise come from rolls of any size and are boundabout the line wires at the point of junction of the mesh wirestherewith, by forming the mesh wires into loops and twisting such loopsabout the line wires without, however, necessitating the movement of themesh wires, except the portion forming the loop only, about the longitudinal axis of the line wires.

The invention comprises a rotatable drum carrying circular series oftwisting heads designed to receive both the line wires and the meshwires, and in connection with this drum there are provided loop-formingfingers related thereto so as to form the meshwires into loopsimmediately adjacent to the line wires and then these mesh wires aretwisted about the line wires to secure them thereto. Provision is madeby the present invention for causing a lateral travel of the mesh wiresalternately between two adjacent line wires so that the mesh wireszigzagthroughout the length of the fence between adjacent line wires.

It is desirable to form fences having different sized mesh openings, savsmall-sized mesh openings at that edge of the fence which willconstitute the bottom of the erected fence, and large mesh openings atthe top of such a fence, thus bringing the small mesh openings at thatpart of the fence where it is desirable to prevent the passage of smallanimals or fowls through the fence near the ground, while larger meshopenings Will be eflfective at a higher the mesh wires with a line wire.

the fence.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 25, 1911- Applicationfiled December 22, 1909.

Serial No. 534,455.

point above the ground, thus economizing material in the fencestructure.

The invention includes means whereby the fence structure may be wovenwith graded mesh openings as described and also includes mechanismwhereby the fence may be woven in the manner set forth.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detail description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification, in which drawings,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the fence machine constructed inaccordance with the present invention, some of the parts of the twistingdrum being omitted. Fig. 2 is vertical section through the machine fromfront to rear with parts of the twisting drum omitted. Fig. 3 is an endelevation viewed from the right-hand end of the structure as shown inFig. 1. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the left-hand end of the machineas viewed in Fig. 1, with parts omitted. Fig. 5" is a cross section ofthe twisting drum on a larger scale than in the other figures, the planeof'the section being at right angles to the longitudinal axis ofrotation of the drum. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of themesh wire controlling means and a portion of the driving mechanismtherefor. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one end of one of the carriersfor the fingers coacting with the twisting members or heads and the loopforming fingers. Fig. 8 is a detail view of one of the hubs ofthetwisting drum. Fig. 9 is a detail section of a stop device used inconnection with the twisting drum. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of oneof the twisting heads and adjacent parts showing one of the rack bars indotted lines. Fig. 11 isa perspective View of one of the sliding fingersutilized in formin the mesh wires into loops prior to twisting. Fig. 12is an elevation of one of the twisting bars and parts carried thereby.Figs. 13 to 17 both inclusive are diagrammatic representations of theoperation of the twisting heads and loop forming mechanism. Fig. 18 is aperspective view of one of the twists uniting Figs. 19 and 20 arestructural diagrams showing the operation of parts during the weaving ofFig. 21 is a longitudinal section of the woven fence receiving drum.

Fig. 22 is a perspective View of a portion of the same. Fig. 23 is aperspective view of another portion of the same. Fig. 24 is a crosssection through the fence receiving drum. Fig. 25 is an axial section,with parts in elevation, of the driving mechanism for the winding drum.Fig. 26 is a perspective view of a portion of the drivmg mechanism forthe rack bars of the twisting drum. Fig. 27 is a detail section of aportion of the structure shown in Fig. 26. Fig. 28 is a view of one ofthe cam structunes.-

The working parts of the machine are sup ported in a suitable frame 1.Mounted in the frame 1 is a power shaft 2 receiving power in any desiredmanner, as by a pulley 3 and belt 4 connected to any suitable primemover.

On one end of the shaft 2 is a pinion 5 meshing with a gear wheel 6 onanother shaft 7 from which latter motion is transmitted to variousmovable parts of the machine in a manner to be described hereinafter.The shaft 7 carries a gear wheel 8 meshing with another gear Wheel 9 ona shaft 10 mounted in the frame 1 near the front of the machine.

The shaft 10 is the shaft of the twisting drum and carries a series ofspaced hubs 11, one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 5 and beyondthis series of hubs 11 the shaft 10 carries other hubs 12. Each hub 11is formed with a circular series of equally spaced radial slots 13widening toward the periphery of the hub by steps for the purpose ofaccommodating certain structures seated in the slots.

In each slot 13 and extending the length of the twisting drum is acomposite bar made up of a main member 14 and a supplemental member 15spaced therefrom but of less width and at proper distances along the barare blocks 16 having a thin body portion with one edge turned at anangle to form a longitudinal flange 17 While the other edge is thickenedto form housing members 18l9 for a twisting head 20 provided with aradial slot 21 extending from the periphery of thetwisting head to thecenter thereof. The periphery of the twisting head is formed with acircular series of gear teeth 22 for a purpose which will presentlyappear.

The housing members 18 and 19 of the block 16 act as spacing blocks forthe bar members 14 and 15 and bolts or screws 23 extending through thebars 14 and 15 and through the housing members 18 and 19 serve to unitethe several members of the bar into a rigid structure.

The housing members 18 and 19 project from the block 16 in the samedirection as the flange 17 and this provides space for a rack bar 24extending beyond the ends of the composite bar 1415 and meshing with allthe twisting heads 20 carried by the respective bars.

On each side of the composite bar 1415 close to the outer edge thereofare strips 25 one of which has its ends bent toward the other andfastened thereto as indicated at 26, so that these two strips will .movetogether. Beyond the point of union of these two strips one of thestrips has its ends bent at right angles thereto as indicated at 27. Thestrips 25 are held to the composite bar 1415 by means of studs or screws28, but as these strips are designed to have a limited movementlongitudinal of the bar 14-15 the studs 01' screws 28 extend throughslots 29 in the strips 25, the length of the slots determining theextent of travelof the strips along the bar 14-15.

At suitable intervals along the top edges or the outer edges of thestrips 25 there are notches or recesses 30 matching the twisting heads20, and secured to each strip 25 at one end of each recess 30 is a block31 provided at one end with a head 32 from which projects a flatelongated stud 33 having one edge 34 rounded and the other edge 35beveled as best shown in Fig. 11, the purpose of this constructionappearing hereinafter.

The disposition of the studs 33 is such that when the strips 25 are atone limit of their travel the free ends of the studs 33 are to one sideof the axis of the twisting heads 20 and when the strips 25 have movedto the other limit of their travel then these free ends of the studs 33have passed to the other side of the axis of rotation of the twistingheads 20, but the beveled edge 35 is at a greater distance from the axisof rotation of the twisting drum than is the axis of rotation of thecorresponding head 20. The housings 18 and 19 override the corresponding twisting heads 20 and have their free ends spaced apart a distancesubstantially equal to the thickness of the slots 21, and these freeends recede one from the other as they leave the twisting head.Furthermore the side walls of those portions of the housings 18 and 19adjacent to their free ends are beveled toward the outer edges of thehousings as indicated at 36. Furthermore the housing 18 is thickenedlaterally adjacent to its free end to a greater extent than the housing19 for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. This extended overhangof the housing 18 is indicated at 37 and is best shown in Fig. 10.

The opposite ends of the bar 14 are formed with or have attached to themlongitudinally extending arms 38, each terminating in a roller 39. Faston the main frame but in position tov be engaged by the roller ends ofthe arms 38 are cams 40 which may be made of parallel metal bars bent toappropriate shape. Each cam is concentric with the axis of rotation ofthe shaft 10 for the greater portion of its circumference, but at oneportion, indicated at 41, the course of the cam approaches the axis ofrotation of the shaft 10.

The rollers 39 traveling in the cams 40 constrain the bars 14-15 tofollow a path when rotated by the hubs 11 which are keyed to the shaft10, concentric for the greater portion of its length with the axis ofrotation of the shaft 10 and then these bars are moved toward the axisof rotation of the shaft 10 for a distance agreeable with the inset ofthe cam at the part 41 thereof. The shape of the cam is such that duringthe greater portion of the rotation of the drum, the bars 1415 and withthem the twisting heads 20 are at the most extended position withrelation to the axis of rotation while the inward movementof these barsand the twisting heads carried thereby is confined to a comparativelysmall portion of the length of the travel of the drum about the axis ofthe shaft 10.

Each bar 1415 carries a suitable number of twisting heads 20 dependingupon the number of line wires to be used in the fence. For reasons whichwill hereinafter appear the twisting heads carried by one bar areintermediate of the twisting heads carried by the next succeeding orpreceding bar so that the twisting heads are in staggered relation.about the twisting drum.

In Figs. 19 and 20 line wires are inclicated at 42 and in the particularillustration of these figures there are eleven such line wires andconsequently one bar 1415 carries five twisting heads, while the nextsucceeding or preceding bar carries six twisting heads. Of course thenumber of twist ing heads to a bar carrying the same will depend uponthe number of line wires 42 which will enter into the fence. In thesesame figures the mesh wires are indicated at 43.

In the weaving of the fence an appropriate number of line wires 42 isused and the spacing of these wires will depend upon the character ofthe fence to be woven. These line wires are carried from a suitable supply, usually located at a point below the floor upon which the machineis mounted, up through the floor, and through a guide rod 44 mounted inthe frame of the machine and provided with perforations or passages 45designed to guide the line wires spaced in accordai'ice with therelative positions of the line wires in the woven fence.

In the normal position of the twisting heads all the slots 21 have theiropen ends coincident with the space between the adj acent free ends ofthe housings 18 and 19 so that the line wires may freely enter the slotsand be carried around the twisting drum to ultimately receive and havesecured thereto the mesh wires 43 in a manner to be described. The meshwires 43 also come from suitable sources of supply below the floor uponwhich the machine is mounted and after passing through the floor are continued upward in front of the machine over a guide strip 46 mounted inthe frame work of the machine and from thence through eyes 47 or othersuitable guiding means carried by two rods 48' and 49 respectively andfrom thence these mesh wires are carried into the twisting heads 20,each twisting head except those at the selvage edges of the woven fabricreceiving two mesh wires 43.

In accordance with the present invention the mesh wires 48 are formedinto open loops in the twisting heads 20 and are then wrapped about theline wires so as to be secured thereto.

In order to cause the looping of the mesh wires the strips 25 are movedin the proper direction and at the proper time period to cause the studs33 to over-ride the line wires within the twisting head and the positionof the bars 48-49 is such that the mesh wires 43 will enter into theslots 21 only after the studs 33 have been moved into their path and arethus interposed between the line wires and the mesh wires on each sideof each twisting head.

To form the mesh wires into the required loops after they have beenpositioned there is provided a rotatable series of fingers 50 51. Thereare as many circular series of these fingers as there are twisting heads20 in the direction of the length of the twisting drum, which number oftwisting heads agrees with the number of line wires 42. Thus if themachine is designed to make a fence having eleven line wires as in Figs.19 and 20 then there will be eleven circular series of fingers 5051. Thefingers 5051 are secured in circular series to disk 52 mounted on ashaft or arbor at an appropriate distance above the shaft 10, and havingbearings in the frame 1. Since, as will hereinafter appear, the circularseries of fingers 50-51 are given rotative movement by the twisting drumabout the axis of the shaft 53, the latter is not otherwise connected upto the power side of the machine. If now it be assumed that the twistingdrum is rotating in the proper direction, which is clock-wise as viewedin Figs. 2, 3, and 5, and coi'isidering the passage of the line and meshwires through one of the twisting heads only, then a line wire willenter the slot 21 of a twisting head 20 to the axis of the latter asindicated in Fig. 13. At the proper point in the rotative movement ofthe twisting drum the strips 25 are actuated to bring the studs acrossthe slot 21 so as to cover the line wire 42 and the mesh wires 43 arebrought into engagement with the edge 84 of the studs 33. In themeantii'ne the ends 36 of the housings 18 and 19 engage a finger 51 andthe continued rotative movement of the twisting drum causes this fingerto move along the corresponding face of the housings 18 and 19 towardthe mesh wires 43, but the overhang 37 prevents the engagement of thefingers 51 with the corresponding studs 33, the latter underriding theoverhang 37. The beveled ends 36 facilitate the movement of the fingers50 and 51 toward and from the axis of the twisting head 20.

The relation of the parts is such that the rotative movement of thetwisting drum imparts a rotative movement to the series of fingers 5051and when the free ends of these fingers are in the closest relation tothe axis of rotation of the twisting drum, the said free ends are aboutcoincident with the axis of rotation of the corresponding twisting headsbut these free ends are sufficiently separated to straddle the studs 33then traversing the slots 21 of the particular twisting head underconsideration. The movement of the finger 51 followed by a correspondingmovement of the finger 50 on the opposite side of the twisting headcauses a bending down of the mesh wires 43 until they are in contactwith the line wire 42, but there is formed a loop 43, shown in Figs. 15and 16, caused by the intervention of the studs 33.

As soon as the loop 43 has been formed the studs 33 are withdrawn out ofthe path of such loop and then rotative movement is imparted to thetwisting head 20 by a proper movement of the rack 24 in a manner to bedescribed hereinafter, and the mesh wires 43 are twisted about the linewire 42 in close relation thereto in a manner to lock these mesh wiresfirmly to the line wires. While the operations described have beenprogressing the twisting drum is rotating about the axis of the shaft10, and consequently the fingers 5051 are moving away from the axis ofthe twisting head 20, until finally the head 20 is entirely removed frombetween these twisting fingers and ultimately the twisted loop of wiresmoves out of the twisting head through the slot 21 to be subsequentlytreated in a manner to be described. In Fig. 17 the completed loop isshown and the fingers 50-51 are indicated as moving away from theiractive positions.

In Fig. 18 the completed loop is shown,

there being indicated a single line wire and mesh wires approaching fromeither side of the said line wire to form the meshes.

The operation just described takes place simultaneously at alternateline wires and is followed by a like operation simultaneously performedon the remaining line Wires at a suitable distance farther along thelast named wires, to be followed by a like operation on the first namedline wires to complete the mesh openings, and these operations arerepeated in order so long as the machine is running and there is asupply of wire fed to the machine.

The fingers 5051 have their free or working ends laterally expanded andformed with a central notch or recess 54 designed to receive and centerthe mesh wires upon the line wire at a distance from the twisting heads,thus facilitating the twisting of the mesh wires about the line wire,since as will hereinafter appear the mesh wires approach the line wireat an angle thereto. Were it not for the holding of the mesh wires at adistance from the twisting heads during the operation of twisting animperfect mesh would result.

In the manufacture of the fence the mesh wires are each securedalternately to two adjacent line wires thus forming substan tiallytriangular meshes. The machine forming the subject matter of the presentinvention is provided with means for causing the alternate movement ofthe mesh wires from one line wire to the next adjacent one as theweaving progresses.

Extending longitudinally through the twisting drum between each twoadjacent bars 14-15 are flat rods 55 each provided with an appropriatenumber of pins 56 in radial relation thereto, each pin being so disposedas to engage a chosen one of the mesh wires as the latter enter the slotin the appropriate twisting head 20. These bars terminate at the ends inangle extensions 57 to be engaged by appropriate mechanism hereinafterdescribed for moving the bars longitudinally. There are always two mesh.wires approaching or receding from a line wire, except the edge orselvage line wires and consequently there must be at least two bars 55moving in opposite directions simultaneously to cause the desiredlateral movement of the mesh wires. However in the drawing the machineis shown adapted ,to produce several graded sizes of mesh openings inthe same fence structure. The particular showing is that of threedifferent sizes of mesh in order from one edge of the fence structure tothe other edge thereof. Consequently there are three pairs of rods 55.The movement of each rod 55 is sufficient to carry a pin 56 from oneline wire to the next adjacent wire in either direction of movement ofthe rods, these rods having reciprocatory movement.

To cause the movement of the rods 55 there are provided at each end ofthe machine pivoted levers 58, these levers being shown as substantiallypendant and carried by brackets 59 on a suitable cross piece 60 of themain frame. To actuate the levers 58 there is provided a shaft 61 uponwhich there are secured cams 62 one for each lever 58. The cams 62engage the levers 58 at a point between their pivot supports 59 and theother ends of the levers, which latter ends are formed into heads 63adapted to engage the extensions 57 of the rods 55 when the saidextensions are brought into the path of the levers 58 by the rotativemovement of the twisting drum. The heads 63 have su'tiicient lateralextension with relation to the length of the lovers 58 to permit theactuation of the rods without the necessity of stopping the progressiverotation of the twisting drum. There are like sets of levers 58 at eachend of the machine, one set of levers engagii'ig the ends 57 of one ofeach pair of rods 55, and the other set of levers at the other end ofthe machine engaging the ends 57 of the other members of each pair ofrods The movement of the parts is so timed that the alternate rods 55 ofeach complete set are moved together, one rod of a pair being moved inone direction and the other rod of the pair being moved in the otherdirection.

Let it be assumed that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 19,so far as the showing of this figure goes, and that the intermediate rowof twisting heads there shown are about to move with the line wires tothe point in the rotative movement of the twisting drum where thetwisting operation occurs. Let it further be assumed that theintermediate set of rods 55 shown in Fig. 19 are about to be movedlongitudinally, the cams 62 being primed to actively engage the levers58 so to actuate the rods 55 referred to at this time. It is to be notedthat the cams 62 are of different sizes so that the levers 58 are movedto correspondingly different extents. Three of the rods 55 are movedtoward the left as view in Figs. 19 and 20 to different extents and thematching rods 55 of the same group or set are moved toward the right tocorresponding different extents. The result of this is that the pins 56carried by the several rods will engage behind the mesh wires then intheir paths and cause them to move toward the line wires toward whichthe pins are actuated by the movement of the rods 55. The mesh wires aretherefore carried into close relation to the corresponding line wires sothat on the continued rotation of the twisting drum these mesh wireswill fall into the slots of the twisting heads receiving the line wirestoward which the mesh wires have been carried. In the meantime thefingers 50 and 51 have moved into embracing relation to the twistingheads which are imn'iediately in advance, in the direction of rotation,of the rods 55 referred to, and the twisting of the mesh wires about theline wires proceeds, the mesh wires on each side of each active twistinghead being then at an angle to the line wires, being there held on theone side by the finished twist and on the other side by the pins 56 ofthe actuated rods 55. The continued rotation of the twisting drumcarries the rods 55 already actuated out of the paths of the levers 58and the progressive rotation of the shaft 61 carries the cams 62 awayfrom the levers 58 which fall to their pendant position out of the pathof the oncoming ends 57 of the next series of rods 55 so that when theselatter rods have been carried to the proper position by the continuedrotation of the twisting drum, the next actuation of the levers 58 willcause the movement of the rods 55 of the succeeding sets in the manneralready described with relation to the first mentioned set.

In order to facilitate the carrying of the mesh wires from one line wireto the other the rods 48 and 49 are also made reciprocatory so that theguiding eyes or staples 47 for the mesh wires travel to an extent withthe movement of the mesh wires from line wire to line wire thus bringingthe mesh wires more nearly into coincidence with the slots in thetwisting heads than would be the case were the rods 48 and 49stationary, and with the eyes 47 intermecliately positioned withrelation to the line wires. By reciprocating the rods 48 and 49 the meshwires are brought into sufficiently close relation to the correspondingline wires to readily drop into the slots in the proper ones of thetwisting heads at the proper time. In order to cause the reciprocationof the rods or bars 48 and 49 there are provided levers 64 carried atone end by brackets 65 which may be fast to the same cross piece 60 asare the brackets 59 and these levers 64 are under the control of cams 66which may be mounted on the shaft 61. The free ends of the levers 64engage pins 67 on the respective rods 48 and 49. There are levers 64 ateach end of the machine so that the reciprocatory movement of the rods48 and 49 is positively caused in each direction. Each shaft 61 carriesanother cam 68 in the path of which is a lever 69 pendantly supported bythe cross piece 60 and at its free end engaging the angle extension 27of the strips 25, the cams 68 and levers 69 operating to cause thereciprocation of the strips 25 in timed relation to the movement of theother parts. The strips 25 being carried by the twisting drum arebrought successively into coincidence with the levers 69 andreciprocatory movement is imparted to these strips at the proper time inthe rotative movement of the twisting drum.

In order to cause the rotation of the shaft 61, each shaft terminates ina beveled pinion 70 meshing with another beveled pinion 71 on a countershaft 72 which in turn carries a second pinion 73 meshing with acorresponding gear wheel 74 on the shaft 7, the gearing beingproportioned to cause the proper movement of the shaft 61.

The composite bars 1415 carrying sets of the twisting heads are carriedabout the axis of the shaft 10 by the hubs 11 and are caused to moveradially with relation to the hubs by the engagement of the rollers 39on the arms 38 in the cams 40.

The rack bars 24 are made longer than the composite bars 1415 so thatthey may be reciprocated by suitable means to be described engaging theends of the rack bars, and because of this reciprocatory movement therack bars are longer than the composite bars 1415. The frictionalengagement of the rack bars with the composite bars tends to cause thelatter to move longitudinally, but this movement is prevented by thehubs 12 at each end of the composite bars and each one of these hubscarries adjustable plates 75 held to the hub by a suitable set screw orscrews 76 (see Fig. 9) each passing through a slot 77 in the plate 7 5while abutting screws 78 carried by the plates 7 5 and engagingshoulders formed in the hubs 12 serve to determine the position of theplates 75 with relation to the hubs. By this means the bars 1415 may beconfined very strictly to a path about the axis of the shaft 10 withoutany material movement parallel therewith.

The hubs 12 are provided with radial slots 7 9 for receiving and guidingthe corresponding ends of the rack bars 24.

In order to cause the active movements of the rack bars 24 to rotate thetwisting heads 20 in a direction to cause the twisting of the mesh wiresabout the line wires, there is provided at one end of the machine, thisbeing the right hand end of the machine as viewed in Fig. 1 in theparticular structure shown, a slide block 80 mounted for reciprocationin a guide 81. This block 80 carries a push bar 82 so located as toengage the corresponding end of a rack bar 24 at the proper time in therotation of the twisting drum to move said rack bar longitudinally andcause the active rotation of the twisting head.

The block 80 is reciprocated by a pitman 83 connected at one end to theblock and the other end to a crank disk 84 on a countershaft 85, whichcountershaft carries a pinion 86 on the end remote from the crank disk84 and this pinion is in mesh with the gear wheel 87 on the shaft 7. Thepush bar 82 causes the movement of the rack bars in one direction onlywhile the return movement of these rack bars to normal position ready tobe again actively moved is caused by a cam 88 located in the path of therack bars at any point in the rotative travel of the twisting drum afterthe wires have left the twisting heads.

' Because of the strain incurred it is desirable that the activemovement of the rack bars under the control of the push bar 82 should beless than sufficient to complete the full necessary movement of thetwisting head. To complete the full active movement of the twisting headthere is provided a cam 89 which is so located that each rack bar comesunder its control as soon as the rack bar moves from engagement with thepush bar 82 and a further longitudinal movement of the rack bar iscaused by the action of this cam, it being a stationary cam, thusimparting the final movement to the twisting heads necessary to completethe twist of the mesh wires about the line wires.

The active movement of the bars or rods 55 has left these bars in aposition from which it is necessary they should be moved to the initialposition. For this purpose there is provided at each end of the machinein the path of the extensions 57 a stationary cam 90 serving to returnall the rods 55 to their initial positions.

The woven fence indicated at 91 in Fig. 2 is carried around an idlerdrum 92, thence through the frame of the machine to the upper portionthereof where it is carried over and around a crimping drum 93, thisbeing an idle member of the crimping structure, thence under and aroundanother crimping drum 94, this being the power member of the crimpingdevice, and thence over and around another idler crimping drum 95, theseseveral drums being of known construction and designed to impart a crimpto the line wires and to the mesh wires, thus making the completed fencelongitudinally elastic. The finished fencing is now carried to a windingdrum, shown best in Figs. 21 to 24 both inclusive. The body of thewinding drum, that portion receiving the completed fencing, is made upof two parallel spaced timbers 96 which in cross section definesubstantially a square body. At each end these timbers 96 are seated inan I-block 97 to which is secured a rod 98 terminating in ascrew-threaded extremity 99.

Each rod 98 is housed for the greater portion of its length in a sleeveor hollow shaft 100 rotatable in a suitable bearing 101, forming part ofthe main frame of the machine.

Keyed to each hollow shaft 100 at the inner side of the bearing 101 is ahub 102 having formed thereon a frame 103 open on two opposite sides andclosed the other two opposite sides at right. angles to the open sides.I This frame has a recess 104 in. line with the hub 102 and adapted toreceive the connecting member of the I-block 97 with the top andbottomlateral extensions thereof resting on the frame 103 on each side of therecess 104. The frame 103 is provided with side wings 105 which, whenthe block 97 is in position in the frame 103 and moved away from the hubend the crank handle 108.

102, span the spaces between the laterally extended ends of the I-blockand so retain the timbers 96 in place therein. The I-block may be movedinto the recess of the frame 103 and so carry the Lblock 97 away fromthe corresponding ends of the timbers 96 thus permitting the same to bewithdrawn through the spaces between the ends of the wings 105. Eachhollow shaft 100 terminates in an enlarged sleeve 106 housing one end ofa nut 107 applied to the threaded end 99 of the corresponding rod 98.Each nut 107 is formed with a handle 108 and with a circumferentialgroove 109 entered by the ends of set-screws 110 serving to confine thenut in the enlarged end 106 on the shaft 100 but at the same timepermitting rotative movement of the nut 107 by means of By this meansthe rods 98 may be moved longitudinally in the shaft 100 and the blocks97 may be moved toward one another or away one from. the other to causethe locking of the timbers 96 in place or their release as the case maybe.

The end of the finished fencing is introduced in the space between thetimbers 96 and then rotative movement is imparted to the shaft 100 tocause the timbers 96 to rotate and thus wind the fence thereon. When asufficient:- roll of fencing has been thus formed on the timbers 96 therods 98 may be moved longitudinally in a direction to carry the blocks97 away from the timbers 96 which cannot follow these blocks because thetimbers abut against the frame 103, and so the timbers with the roll offencing are released so that the timbers and fencing roll may be removedfrom the machine, after which because of the space between the timbers96 the said timbers may be loosened and removed from the roll andreplaced in the blocks 97 to be again fastened in place preparatory toforming another roll of finished fencing.

In order to drive the winding roll for the fencing there is mounted onone of the shafts 100 a sprocket gear wheel 111. This wheel is held onthe shaft by a collar 112 on one side and a ratchet wheel 113 on theother side, this ratchet wheel being coupled to the sprocket wheel 111by a pawl 114:. The ratchet wheel is made fast to the shaft 100 by aset-screw 115 or otherwise. The hub of the ratchet wheel and the sleeve106 may be formed in one piece if so desired.

The winding drum for the finished fencing is rotated through thesprocket wheel 111 by means of a sprocket chain 116 leading to asprocket wheel 117 carried by the shaft 10. The sprocket wheel 117 is inthe form of an annulus made fast on a sleeve 118 in turn carried byfriction rings 119 supported by a pulley 120 on the shaft 10.

On one side of the pulley 120 is a disk 121 and on the other side of thepulley 120 is a disk 1.22. These two disks are keyed to the shaft- 10and are held together by bolts 123 serving to clamp the rings 119between them. The disk 121 is provided with lugs 124 for attachment tothe spokes of the gear wheel 9 keyed to the shaft 10, this serving tokey the disk 121 to the shaft 10 through the gear wheel 9.

The connection between the shaft 10 and the sprocket wheel 117 is afriction connection which will yield on the exertion of asutlicientforce or the presentation to the sprocket wheel 117 of a sufficientresistance to its rotation.

-When the finished fencing is rolled upon the winding drum therefor theincreasing diameter of the roll will cause a greater peripheral speedthan when the roll is smaller unless provision be made for compensatingthis increasing diameter of the roll and this is done by the slip of thesprocket wheel 117 upon its support, but the frictional engagement ofthe rings 119 with the member 118 is sufficient to wind the fencing uponthe winding drum under the desired tension, the parts yielding orslipping before the tension becomes too great.

The shaft 7 carries a sprocket pinion 125 connected by a sprocket chain126 to a sprocket pinion 127 on the crimping drum 9%. A tightenersprocket pinion 128 mounted on an adjustable bracket 129 serves tomaintain the chain 126 in the desired tightened condition.

The machine as a whole operates as follows: The line wires 42 comingfrom a suitable source of supply are carried through the guide 1 1,thence around the twisting drum passing through appropriate ones of thetwisting heads 20 by way of the slots 21. The mesh wires 43 coming froma suitable source of supply are carried through the eyes 47 on the bars184t9 and from thence to the twisting heads on the twisting drum.Considering the drum as rotating, each pair of mesh wires, these wiresbeing arranged. in pairs, are first to be considered as lodged in atwisting head near the open end of the slot 21, the studs 33 at thistime lying alongv side of the twisting head in traversing relation tothe portion thereon in which the slot 21 is formed. The continuedrotation of the drum causes an engagementof the fingers 50*51 with themesh wires 43 in a manner to form them in loops about the fingers 33until these mesh wires are brought intoengagei'nent with the line wires42 traversing the slot 21 coincident with the axis of rotation of thetwisting head 22. As soon as the loops have been formed in the meshwires 1 the cams 68 and levers 69 become active to move the strips 25and with them the studs 33 out of active relation to the twisting head.Inn'nediately after this the rack bar 241 controlling the twisting headsin line therewith is actuated by the push bar 82 to which reciprocatorymovement is imparted by the crank disk 84, driven by the pinion S6, andgear 87 on the shaft 7. The rotation of the twisting heads causes theloops of the mesh wire, which loops are in eccentric relation to theaxis of rotation of the twisting heads, to be wound about the line wiresin the manner shown in Fig. 18, the parts being so proportioned that thetwisting heads come to rest with the slots 21 directed radially outward.The rotary movement of the drum continuing, the next series of twistingheads in order is brought to the position occupied by the twisting headsjust considered, but in the meantime the mesh wires are carried awayfrom the line wires to which they have just been connected toward theadjacent line wires there meeting other mesh wires similarly treated,this being brought about by the proper movement of the rods under theaction of the cams 62 and levers 58. The appropriate strips 25 are nowmoved to bring the studs 33 into crossing relation to the slots 21 ofthe new set of twisting heads and the rotation of the twisting drum hascaused a like rotation of the shaft carrying the fingers 50-5l so thatthe fingers in order are brought into operative relation to the meshwires and force the latter toward the line wires in a direction towardthe axis of rotation of the drum to form the loops in these mesh wiresprior to the action of the twisting heads which act in timed relation tothe movements of the other elements as, already described. On thefurther rotative movement of the drum the mesh wires are returned towardthe line wires with which they were first connected and are twistedt-hereabout and are then carried to and twisted about the second set ofline wires and so on so long as the machine is in operation.

As the rotative movement of the drum progresses the twisting heads andparts carrying the same are moved radially toward the axis of rotationof the drum to withdraw the twisting heads from the finished fabric,this being accomplished by the cams 40 engaging the arms 38 and theseparts are again returned to the former position by the same cams. Afterthe fence is woven, which woven fence is indicated at 91 in Fig. 2, itcarried about the idler drum 92 and thence through the frame of themachine to the upper part thereof and between the crimping rollers 93,94-, 95 and finally passes to the winding drum which is driven in propertimed relation to the rest of the mechanism so that the finished fabricis wound upon the drum at a speed to maintain the fence in a tautcondition and draw the same through the machine as rapidly as necessary.hen the roll of fencing on the winding drum is completed the blocks 97aremoved one away from the other thus releasing the timbers 9G for thewithdrawal of the roll.

The treatment of the fence after being woven forms no part of thepresent invention, but it will be understood that if so de sired thefence may be galvanized after the usual practice thus cementing thestrands securely together.

hat is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a twister for mesh wires, and alooper for the mesh wires in operative relation to the twister to formthe mesh wires into loops in traversing eccentric relation to thetwister and timed to act prior to the action of the twisters on theloops.

2. In a machine of the class described, a twister for mesh wires inposition to be axially traversed by a line wire, and a looper for themesh wires in operative relation to the twister to form the loop ineccentric traversing relation to the twister, said looper being timed inaction to form the loop prior to the active movement of the twister.

3. In a machine of the class described, twisters for the mesh wires inposition to be axially traversed by the line wires, loopers for the meshwires in operative relation to the twisters to form the loops ineccentric traversing relation to the twisters and timed in action toform the loops prior to the active movement of the twisters, anddiverters for the mesh wires movable transversely to the length of theline wires to carry the mesh wires alternately into operative relationto the line wires.

4. In a machine of the class described, a rotatable drum having thereontwisting heads movable radially with relation to the drum, said twistingheads being in staggered relation and. rotatable on an axis tangentialto the path of rotation of the twisting head about the axis of the drum.

5. In a machine of the class described, diverters for mesh wires foralternating them between adjacent line wires, loopers for the mesh wiresacting thereon when the mesh wires are adjacent to the line wires, andtwisters for wrapping the loops of the mesh wires about the line wires.

6. In a machine of the class described, a twisting device comprising arotatable member, twisting heads, carriers for said heads mounted insaid rotatable member and movable radially with relation thereto, meansfor causing the active movement of the twisting heads, said means beingcarried by the rotatable member, and means independent of the rotatablemember for causing the actuation of the means for moving the twist-- ingheads actively in timed relation to the rotative movement of therotatable member.

7. In a machine of the class described, a circular series of radiallymovable twisting heads in sets parallel with the axis of rotation, anactuating mechanism for causing the radial movement of all of thetwisting heads of a set at a predetermined point in the rotation of theseries, and actuating mechanism engaging all the twisting heads of a setsimultaneously at a predetermined point in the rotative movement of theseries of twisting heads to cause the simultaneous twisting movement ofthe twisting heads of a set.

8. In a machine of the class described, a grou of twisting heads eachprovided with a ra ial slot open at the outer end and with peripheralteeth, a bar carrying all the twisting heads of a group in spacedrelation, and a rack bar carried by the first-named bar with its teethin mesh with the peripheral teeth of all the twisting heads of thegroup, said rack-bar being capable of movement longitudinal to thecarrying bar.

9. In a machine of the class described, twisting heads, a bar carrying agroup thereof in spaced relation, each twisting head be ing providedwith a radial slot open at the outer end, means for causing the rotativemovement of the twisting heads on their own axes, spacing membersmovable across the slots in the twisting heads, means for introducingwires or strands into the slots of the twisting heads with the spacingmembers interposed, and means for bending the radially outer wiresaround the interposed members toward the inner wires.

10. In a machine of the class described, twisting heads each providedwith a radial slot open at the outer end, spacing members movable acrossthe slot on each side of the twisting heads, means for introducing awire or strand into the slot in each twisting head to the inner endthereof, means for introducing other wires or strands into the slots inthe twisting heads with the spacing members interposed between thelatter-named wires and the first-named wires, and means for carrying thelast-named wires around the interposed members and toward the firstnamedwires.

11. In a machine of the class described, rotatable twisting heads, eachhaving a radial slot extending from its axis of rotation to and openingat the periphery of the head, and a housing for said head having apassage leading to the slot in the twisting head when the latter is innormal position, said housing extending beyond the twisting head in thedirection of the axis of rotation of the latter, and spacing membersmovable across the slot in the twisting head in close relation to theopposite sides of the said twisting head and within the space defined bythe lateral extension of the housing.

12. In a machine of the class described, a rotatable twisting drum, barscarried thereby and extending parallel with the axis of rotation of thesaid twisting drum, sets of twisting heads carried by the bars, spacingmembers carried by the bars and movable into and out of operativerelation to the twisting heads, and rotatable series of fingers adaptedto move along the spacing members in a direction to and from the axes ofrotation individual to the twisting heads.

13. In a machine of the class described, a rotatable series oftwisting-heads made up of sets of twisting heads longitudinal to theaxis of rotation of the series and each individually rotatable, spacingmembers mov able in operative relation to the twisting heads in adirection longitudinal to the axis of rotation of the series, andlooping fingers movable in operative relation to the spacing members ina direction to and from the axis of rotation of the series.

14. In a machine of the class described, a rotatable drum or carrier,twisting heads thereon disposed in a circular series of sets or groupsof twisting heads, each set being longitudinal to the drum and instaggered relation to the next adjacent set, means for feeding line andmesh wires to the drum, and means carried by the drum for engaging themesh wires and moving them alternately into operative relation to thestaggered twisting heads of successive groups thereof.

15. In a machine of the class described, a rotatable twisting drumprovided with a circular series of longitudinal sets of twisting heads,the heads of one set being in staggered relation to the heads of thenext adj acent sets, means for directing line and mesh wires or strandstothe twisting drum, means carried by the twisting drum for directingthe mesh wires into operative relation to adjacent line wires and thetwisting heads receiving the latter, in alternation, means for formingthe mesh wires into loops when in operative relation to the line wires,and means for causing the active movement of the twisting heads to wrapthe loops of mesh wires about the line wires.

16. In a machine of the class described, a rotatable twisting drum, barslongitudinal thereof and capable of moving radially with relation tosaid drum, twisting heads carried by said bars, means carried by thebars for imparting rotative movement to the twisting heads on the bars,means for directing line and mesh wires or strands to the twistingheads, rods or bars individual to each bar carrying a set of twistingheads and also mounted on the drum, said last-named bars being providedwith means for engaging the mesh wires and moving them between adjacentline wires, and means for causing the active movement of the rods orbars engaging the mesh wires.

17. In a machine of the class described, a rotatable twisting drum, barslongitudinal thereof, and movable radially in said drum, a group or setof twisting heads carried by

